Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court she had "drummed it" into him that he must not tell anyone about them and to keep it a secret.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
That seemed at odds with the interest that some booksellers said the memoir had drummed up and with the interest it had garnered online.
From New York Times ● Jan. 10, 2023
Watts had drummed for the Stones since 1963.
From Washington Times ● Aug. 27, 2021
Anyone who wishes people would just speak according to the norms they had drummed into them when they were growing up may as well forget about it.
From The Guardian ● Aug. 15, 2019
When he and Annabeth started dating, his mother had drummed it into his head: It’s good manners to walk your date to the door.
From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan
